The red knee tarantula (also known as the red-kneed tarantula) is a type of burrowing tarantula that inhabits the pacific mountains of Mexico. The red knee tarantula is most well-known for its hairy body and the red bands that don its legs.

The red knee tarantula typically grows to around 20cm in length but some particularly large individuals have been known to grow much bigger. The red knee tarantula has a relatively long lifespan for a spider as many get to be older than 30 years of age, however this is only the case for the female tarantula. This arachnid is totally carnivorous, eating a range of different prey. The Female Mexican Red Knee lays an average of 40 eggs which are then deposited into a silk sack for protection. The eggs will be in this silk sack for around a month until they hatch into tiny baby tarantulas or ‘Slings’ as they are known. 

IUCN Red List Category– Near Threatened

This species is endemic to eastern and south-eastern United States. Its range extends from southern New Jersey, Maryland, and Kentucky southward to south-eastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southern Alabama, and southern Florida and used by farmers as a means of pest control because of their prey consisting of mice, birds and small reptiles.

This species is represented by a large number of occurrences (subpopulations). Adult population size is unknown but presumably exceeds 10,000 and probably exceeds 100,000. This species is mostly semi-fossorial, inhabiting in a wide variety of environments, from dry to humid, including pine forest, grass flatwoods, grasslands, open rock areas, and tropical hammocks.

IUCN Red List Category– Least Concern

This species has a wide distribution from Sudan and Uganda across central Africa and throughout west Africa to Senegal. This species inhabits dry areas, from grassland to open forests and can also be found in agricultural land.

This species is an important species for rodent pest control as the predominant part of their diet is made up of small rodents such as mice and rats. These stocky snakes are terrestrial in nature, meaning they spend the majority of their time on the ground. In western Africa, Royal Pythons are locally killed for their meat and their skin. It is also an extremely popular pet snake around the world, famed for its gentle and docile nature. Depending on the colour morph, some individuals can cost thousands of pounds. 

IUCN Red List Category– Least Concern

The Rankins dragon (also known as Lawson's dragon) is a smaller version of the bearded dragon but is actually a completely separate species.

They are usually grey or tan which helps them blend in with their surroundings and when threatened they will open their mouth and their throat will turn a black in colour, a tactic used to make the animal look bigger. They have rough skin on their back and a smooth soft underbelly. Rankins dragons are found in the hot, dry rocky areas of Australia. They can sometimes be found climbing trees and rocks but are mainly found foraging in the vegetation on the ground.

IUCN Red List Category– Yet to be Determined

The bearded dragon is a medium sized lizard which is generally 12-24 inches in length from their head to the tip of their tail. Being found naturally in Australia's desert regions more usually the south eastern Northern Territory and the eastern half of South Australia, this species utilises a wide range of habitats including woodlands, savannahs, and deserts.

It is not uncommon to find them basking on branches, stumps, or rocks during the morning in order to raise their body temperature. The Bearded Dragon will eat a range of food including vegetation as well as bugs such as crickets, mealworms and locusts. The adults are also partial to small rodents too if they are presented with the opportunity to do so. Juvenile bearded dragons eat more invertebrates than the adults (around 80% invertebrates) whilst the adults predominantly feed on vegetation (around 80% vegetation). 

IUCN Red List Category– Yet to be Determined

The fascinating lizard is famous for its ability to ‘walk on water’. Known as the Jesus Lizard the animal runs across the waters surface so quick it is able to use the waters surface tension to ‘run’ on water.

This behaviour is usually performed as an escape response to a predator attack. Special folds of skin on its feet spread out to create a paddle-like shape. Basilisks can only go about 20 feet on the water before they start to sink, however they are fast swimmers and can stay underwater for around 30 minutes. Green basilisks lay between 10 and 20 eggs in a hole in the ground which once laid are left to fend for themselves. The babies then take care of themselves from the moment they’re born. Being omnivores Green Basilisks eat fruit, plants, insects and other small invertebrates.

IUCN Red List Category– Yet to be Determined

A medium sized lizard which is part of the Agamid family, these often resemble the green iguana, though on a smaller scale and generally less aggressive. Colouring can vary from a darkish brown/green to a pale green with the underside being lighter in colour than the upper body.

Chinese Water dragons can live for around 10 years and some have even been recorded up to the grand old age of 15. In the wild Chinese Water Dragons can be found in trees and bushes where the humidity is high, occasionally coming to ground. Being a diurnal species they are active by day. The diet of a water dragon consists mainly of invertebrates but larger animals will also take the odd larger prey such as small mice and other rodents. As the name suggests Chinese Water Dragons are competent swimmers and so as a result are often found near water. It is whilst in the water that these Lizards will defecate. 

IUCN Red List Category– Yet to be Determined

Boa constrictors are tan in colour, gradually becoming darker closer to the tail. The diamond shape patterning on their backs makes them a very pretty snake to look at and also a very popular pet. These snakes are Ovoviviparous, meaning they retain the eggs inside the female who then effectively gives birth to live young. Being born at around 18 inches, these snakes can grow to an impressive 5-9ft with some large females exceeding 12ft.

Common Boas are solitary and nocturnal and can be found from northern Mexico right through to Argentina. Of all the boas, this snake thrives in the most varied habitats but shows the least inclination towards water. Like all snakes this species will shed its skin on an annual basis. It is easy to tell when a snake is ready to shed as their eyes become cloudy and their body becomes relatively dull. These boas are very good climbers and young snakes can regularly be found foraging high in the tree tops, larger snakes do climb but not as often as the young individuals due to their larger body sizes. Common boas will eat a wide variety of animals ranging from small rodents, birds and amphibians to larger animals such as Ocelots. Feeding predominantly at night the snake will actively seek outs its prey, striking and wrapping itself tightly around the victim. It will then squeeze the prey until it stops breathing and swallow the animal whole. 

 IUCN Red List Category– Least Concern

These tortoises are a native of the Sahara Desert and the Sahel in Africa. To get to areas with higher moisture, these tortoises dig burrows which may reach up to 10 feet below the ground where they spend the warmer parts of the day.

They then come out when the blistering temperatures have cooled and a little more comfortable. Their hell is actually a modified rib cage which has evolved into a protective outer shell designed to prevent predators injuring or even killing the reptile. The tortoise will retract its head into its shell and then make a tight seal with its hard legs to prevent a predator from being able to damage its vital areas. Tortoises are reptiles, just like the dinosaurs were, and as a result are endothermic. This means that they control their body heat via the external environment and not through internal processes like ourselves. 

IUCN Red List Category– Vulnerable